The Odyssey Athena Quotes

"But my heart breaks for Odysseus,
that seasoned veteran cursed by fate so long –
far from his loved ones still, he suffers torments
off on a wave-washed island rising at the center of the seas.
…Atlas’ daughter it is who holds Odysseus captive,
luckless man – despite his tears, forever trying
to spellbind his heart with suave, seductive words
and wipe all thought of Ithaca from his mind."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 1, lines 57-60, 65-68. There is a strong theme of homecoming in The Odyssey, with Odysseus on a long, perious journey home after the end of the Trojan War. In this passage Athena, who has a special relationship with Odysseus, pleads with Zeus to allow the "cursed by fate" hero home. She says that he is being held captive on an island by the goddess Calypso, who is trying to wipe out all thoughts of his homeland. Calypso is portrayed in The Odyssey as embodying the feminine powers of seduction, manipulative language and beauty and using these to keep Odysseus on her island. Athena on the other hand employs her considerable power at a meeting of the gods to help Odysseus and persuade Zeus to allow him return home.
Athena in The Odyssey

"While I myself go down to Ithaca, rouse his son
to a braver pitch, inspire his heart with courage
to summon the flowing-haired Achaeans to full assembly,
speak his mind to all those suitors, slaughtering on and on
his droves of sheep and shambling longhorn cattle.
Next I will send him off to Sparta and sandy Pylos,
there to learn of his dear father’s journey home.
Perhaps he will hear some news and make his name
throughout the mortal world."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 1, lines 104-112. Young Telemachus needs courage to confront Penelope’s greedy suitors who feast on his animals, and to go on a journey to find his father. In this passage Athena announces that she will travel to Ithaca to persuade Telemachus to do these very things.

And down she swept from Olympus’ craggy peaks
and lit on Ithaca, standing tall at Odysseus’ gates,
the threshold of his court. Gripping her bronze spear,
she looked for all the world like a stranger now,
like Mentes, lord of the Taphians.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 1, lines 119-123. Athena, disguised as Odysseus’ friend Mentes, flies to Ithaca to talk to Telemachus. Mentes is king of the Taphians and a friend of Odysseus. Athena shows herself to be a master of deceitful disguises throughout The Odyssey.

First by far to see her was Prince Telemachus,
sitting among the suitors, heart obsessed with grief.
He could almost see his magnificent father, here…
in the mind’s eye – if only he might drop from the clouds
and drive these suitors all in a rout throughout the halls
and regain his pride of place and rule his own domains!

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 1, lines 132-137. We are introduced to Odysseus’ son Telemachus for the first time. We are told by way of a heart metaphor that he is full of grief for his absent father. He is the first to notice Athena, who appears in the form of Mentes. We get foreshadowing in this passage of what will happen when Odysseus routs the suitors.

Then he escorted her to a high, elaborate chair of honor,
over it draped a cloth, and here he placed his guest
with a stool to rest her feet.
…A maid brought water soon in a graceful golden pitcher
and over a silver basin tipped it out
so they might rinse their hands,
then pulled a gleaming table to their side.
A staid housekeeper brought on bread to serve them,
appetizers aplenty too, lavish with her bounty.
A carver lifted platters of meat toward them,
meats of every sort, and set beside them golden cups
and time and again a page came round and poured them wine.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 1, lines 152-154, 160-168. The Greek value of hospitality is emphasized when Athena, disguised as Mentes, visits Telemachus. He invites her to share in the household’s "lavish" banquet. She is given pride of place at the table, being seated on one of the best chairs and provided with a footstool.

"What’s this banqueting, this crowd carousing here?
And what part do you play yourself? Some wedding-feast,
some festival? Hardly a potluck supper, I would say.
How obscenely they lounge and swagger here, look,
gorging in your house. Why, any man of sense
who chanced among them would be outraged,
seeing such behavior."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 1, lines 261-267. Athena asks Telemachus why there is a banquet taking place in his home, with crowds of people carousing and gorging themselves. She is commenting on the suitors’ outrageous and greedy behavior.

"But you, I urge you,
think how to drive these suitors from your halls.
Come now, listen closely. Take my words to heart.
At daybreak summon the island’s lords to full assembly,
give your orders to all and call the gods to witness:
tell the suitors to scatter, each to his own place."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 1, lines 311-316. Athena comes to the aid of the young, immature and inexperienced Telemachus. She gives him the confidence and strength needed to stand up for the family’s estate and to the suitors who abuse it.

"You must not cling to your boyhood any longer –
it’s time you were a man. Haven’t you heard
what glory Prince Orestes won throughout the world
when he killed that cunning, murderous Aegisthus,
who’d killed his famous father?
And you, my friend –
how tall and handsome I see you now – be brave, you too,
so men to come will sing your praises down the years."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 1, lines 341-347. Athena is trying to inspire young Telemachus with the courage to go and search for news about his long-lost father. She wants the boy to become a man through action and by taking on responsibility. She is basically telling Telemachus to grow up and take charge, citing as an example Orestes, who gained glory by killing Aegisthus for having murdered Orestes’ father Agamemnon. Athena says that Telemachus too will win glory if he shows bravery.

"As for the stranger, though,
the man’s an old family friend, from Taphos,
wise Anchialus’ son. He says his name is Mentes,
lord of the Taphian men who love their oars."
So he said
but deep in his mind he knew the immortal goddess.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 1, lines 475-479. When Eurymachus questions Telemachus on who his guest is, Telemachus answers that his name is Mentes. Telemachus, aware that Mentes is the disguised goddess Athena, shows cunning by hiding her real identity from the suitors.

"I don’t grudge these arrogant suitors for a moment,
weaving their violent work with all their wicked hearts –
they lay their lives on the line when they consume
Odysseus’ worldly goods, blind in their violence,
telling themselves that he’ll come home no more.
But all the rest of you, how you rouse my fury!
Sitting here in silence…
never a word put forth to curb these suitors,
paltry few as they are and you so many."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 2, lines 263-271. Athena, disguised as Mentor, sternly criticizes the people of Ithaca. She tells them that they should be ashamed for remaining silent and doing nothing while greedy suitors devour Odysseus’ estate. Athena often impersonates Mentor, a son of Alcimus and friend of Odysseus.

"Dear god, hear me! Yesterday you came to my house,
you told me to ship out on the misty sea and learn
if father, gone so long, is ever coming home…
Look how my countrymen – the suitors most of all,
the pernicious bullies – foil each move I make."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 2, lines 295-299. As he walks along the beach alone, a frustrated Telemachus prays to Athena for help in dealing with the bullying suitors. The young prince is still not fully confident in himself, especially on taking on the role of his father as head of the household.

"Telemachus, no more shyness, this is not the time!
We sailed the seas for this, for news of your father –
where does he lie buried? what fate did he meet?
So go right up to Nestor, breaker of horses.
We’ll make him yield the secrets of his heart.
Press him yourself to tell the whole truth:
he’ll never lie – the man is far too wise."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 3, lines 16-22. Athena has been trying to give Telemachus a crash course in courage and maturity. She continues it here, as she deals with the young prince’s shyness about approaching King Nestor and speaking to him.

"Telemachus,"
the bright-eyed goddess Athena reassured him,
"some of the words you’ll find within yourself,
the rest some power will inspire you to say.
You least of all – I know –
were born and reared without the gods’ good will."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 3, lines 27-32. Athena offers words of encouragement to the shy Telemachus, who is concerned that his powers of speech and eloquence may not be up to addressing an older man of the stature of King Nestor. Telemachus wants to ask the king about his missing father Odysseus. The Odyssey, as well as being about the journey of the wandering Odysseus, is also a coming-of-age story about his son, growing up in a royal household without a father and trying to find his way in the world. That journey to manhood he is now learning to make – with Athena’s help.

"All men need the gods…
but the man is younger, just about my age.
That’s why I give the gold cup first to you."
With that
Pisistratus placed in her hand the cup of mellow wine
and Pallas rejoiced at the prince’s sense of tact
in giving the golden winecup first to her.

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 3, lines 55-57. Pisistratus asks Athena – disguised as Mentor – to say a prayer to Poseidon, since it is the god’s feast day in Pylos. There is a certain irony in asking her to pray to Poseidon, who is punishing Odysseus. For Athena is Odysseus’ patron goddess and is working against Poseidon.

At once she prayed intensely to Poseidon:
"Hear me, Sea-lord, you who embrace the earth –
don’t deny our wishes, bring our prayers to pass!
First, then, to Nestor and all his sons grant glory.
Then to all these Pylians, for their splendid rites
grant a reward that warms their gracious hearts.
And last, Poseidon, grant Telemachus and myself
safe passage home, the mission accomplished
that sped us here in our rapid black ship."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 3, lines 61-69. Prompted by Nestor’s son Pisistratus, Athena prays to Poseidon to honor Nestor and his sons. It is ironic that Athena prays to Poseidon. For she is working against the god who is punishing Odysseus, by giving advice to Odysseus’ son Telemachus.

"it meant no joy to Agamemnon, not at all.
He meant to detain us there and offer victims,
anything to appease Athena’s dreadful wrath –
poor fool, he never dreamed Athena would not comply.
The minds of the everlasting gods don’t change so quickly."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 3, lines 159-163. Nestor is speaking of how Athena created a feud between the brothers Menelaus and Agamemnon after the fall of Troy. Menelaus wanted to return home immediately, but Agamemnon wanted to stay and sacrifice to Athena. Nestor calls Menelaus a "fool," saying that it is not easy to change the fate that the gods decide for you.

"If only
the bright-eyed goddess chose to love you just
as she lavished care on brave Odysseus, years ago
in the land of Troy where we Achaeans struggled!
I’ve never seen the immortals show so much affection
as Pallas openly showed him, standing by your father –
if only she’d favor you, tend you with all her heart,
many a suitor then would lose all thought of marriage,
blotted out forever."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 3, lines 247-255. Nestor’s words to Telemachus, wishing that Athena loved and helped him as much as she did Odysseus, are ironic. For the reader is aware that the goddess cares very much for Telemachus and his father and is dedicated to helping them both.

"Never, your majesty,"
Telemachus countered gravely, "that will never
come to pass, I know. What you say dumbfounds me,
staggers imagination! Hope, hope as I will,
that day will never dawn…
not even if the gods should will it so."

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 3, lines 255-260. This is Telemachus’ response to Nestor, who says that if only Athena favored Telemachus as she did his father Odysseus. This is an example of dramatic irony since the reader knows that Telemachus is being guided by Athena, disguised as Mentor, in his search for his father. It also shows Telemachus’ modesty and lack of pride.
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